Posted by Joshua on Monday, September 3rd, 2007

Shaker Youssef Al-Absi (also spelled Abssi), the fugitive leader of the Fatah al-Islam militants was killed today as he was trying to flee the Nahr el Bared Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon. The army victory today brings to an end the Fatah al-Islam organization, and the life of of its leader Shaker Youssef Al-Absi. Naharnet leads with this:

The Lebanese Army has finished off the Fatah al-Islam legend, killed its leader Shaker al-Abssi and 31 other terrorists and rounded up 20 in the 106th day of the confrontation at the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. Security agencies have launched a nationwide manhunt for 10 terrorists who escaped the battle Sunday by infiltrating through the al-Bared River stream.

Prime Minister Saniora, in a televised message to the Lebanese screened late Sunday, praised the army's "sacrifices" and said that its victory against terrorists was equal to the "heroic acts" registered by "resistance fighters" against Israel in south Lebanon. He was referring to the 34-day war between Hizbullah and Israel in the summer of 2006. He stressed that "we are determined to enable the state and its legal forces to be the protector … of the people's security."

(Naharnet) Muallem also reaffirmed Damascus' vehement denial that it had any link to the militant Fatah al-Islam group that had taken over the camp. "This is rejected. We were the first to announce that Fatah al-Islam are terrorists and its leaders are wanted by our security forces," he said.

Syria dominated Lebanon militarily for almost three decades but pulled its troops out under international pressure in April 2005 following the assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri in February that year. The United States has pointed the finger at Syria for the spate of political assassinations that have dogged Lebanon since then although Damascus has always vehemently denied involvement.

Interestingly, none of the Lebanese sites now say that Absi or Fatah al-Islam are Syrian agents or controlled by Syria; rather, they stress the al-Qaida links of Absi. This is interesting, of course, because most Lebanese officials stated with certainty at the time of the uprising at Naher al-Bared, that the violence was inspired by Syrian hands in order to destabilize Lebanon.

When Army Chief of Staff, Michel Suleiman, stated only two weeks ago that no indication existed that Syria was behind Fatah al-Islam; but rather, it was an al-Qaida inspired organization, (see Fatah Al Islam 'linked to Al Qaeda' ) government officials and Lebanese pundits raised their voices in horror. They lambasted Suleiman for being a Syrian toadie and suppressing the truth in order to position himself as Syrian friendly in order to inherit the presidency in the event that parliament cannot agree on a candidate.

Here are several biographies of Absi by pro-March 14 outlets that appeared yesterday: Lebanon Now, Naharnet, Ya Lubnan. None make the Syrian link outright. On August 20th, the Lebanese courts accused 107 prisoners of belonging to Fatah al-Islam. Among them, there were 62 Lebanese, 36 Palestinians, 5 Saudis, 2 Syrians, 1Tunisian and an Algerian. (See L'Orient Le Jour for the figures.)

Patriarch Sfeir, the Maronite Leader with greatest moral authority, may be responsible for this shift in opinion. Ever since Suleiman suggested he would be prepared to step in as a compromise candidate for the presidency and that he would not permit Lebanon to be have two elected presidents, (which would be the case if one is elected by the governing coalition and another by the opposition), Sfeir has welcomed the idea. He announced that he is not against amending the constitution if the purpose was to rescue Lebanon. He told as-Safir,

"We are living in the heart of the danger, and when we talk about two governments, two presidents and two Lebanons, then we are in danger." He also said that if General Suleiman is the only available solution then he is all for it.

The United States and most elements of the March 14 governing coalition have come out against the Suleiman option, standing on constitutional principle. US Ambassador Feltman said Washington supported a Lebanese President in line with 1559, within the constitutional schedule, and in line with the constitution. At the same time, Feltman said that Washington does not want to get involved in what should be a Lebanese decision.

Suleiman has tweaked the US on a number occasions. In the midst of the fighting at Naher al-Bared, he accused the United States of refusing to assist Lebanon with heavy weapons, which might have ended the fighting weeks earlier and saved Lebanese soldiers' lives. The US has for decades adhered to an unofficial policy of not arming the Lebanese military with heavy or sophisticated weapons for fear they may be used against its ally Israel, former senior Lebanese military commanders pointed out. He also indicated that Lebanon would be forced to purchase heavy weapons from Russia, if the US insisted on protecting Israeli interests over Lebanese.

A second reason why the US and March 14 leaders would not be happy with a Suleiman solution is that they would see it as a Syrian victory and failure for themselves. Although Syria has remained largely silent about Suleiman's candidacy, March 14 politicians have placed him in the Syrian camp.

Lebanon's pro-Syrian president Lahood, appointed Suleiman Chief-of-Staff and has recently used Suleiman's statements to announce that He Would Name Suleiman as a Provisional Successor, if the warring political sides fail to agree on a permanent head of state.

"The constitution is clear and so are our constitutional norms: a President can be elected only if two-thirds of the number of deputies attend the session," the pro-Syrian Lahoud said in a statement issued by his office on Thursday. "Otherwise I have already made a suggestion to appoint a transitional cabinet headed by army commander General Suleiman and comprising six or seven civilians. "The goal of this cabinet would be to draft a new electoral law, hold parliamentary elections and pave the way for the holding of presidential elections."

This suggestion, which goes far beyond anything Suleiman signed onto, seems designed as a tactical ploy. Nabil Bou Monsef of the An-Nahar newspaper, said:

"By making this suggestion he is hinting that the elections are not likely to take place and that it would be out of the question for Saniora's government to take over."

Gen. Suleiman has not said whether he would accept such an appointment, but a high-ranking military official said he was unlikely to agree to anything that would divide the army.

Salim Hoss, a much respected ex-Prime Minister, who has often gained Syria's backing in the past and headed the first government under President Lahood, wrote in an open letter to the president, carried by the state-run National News Agency (NNA): "We believe you are wrong in this choice … You are committing a deadly sin." Proposing an interim cabinet under Gen. Suleiman "would lead to an explosive situation … it would lead to two colliding governments" that of Premier Fouad Saniora and the interim cabinet. Hoss said a solution to the ongoing political crisis lies in "the formation of a government of national unity."

Pro-Hariri papers denounced Lahood's suggestion as tantamount to a coup. Al-Mustaqbal charged on Friday: "Lahoud unveils a plot for a coup: a mixed civilian-military interim government."

Sfeir has not ruled out a Suleiman compromise because his first concern is to maintain a strong presidency. To allow the appointment of two presidents or the continuation of a diminished presidency, as has been the case under Lahood since Syria withdrew its forces, would undermine Maronite authority in the government. The President must be a Maronite, according to the constitution. Since the Taif Accord of 1989, which ended the Civil War, the powers of the presidency were diminished in favor of the office of the Prime Minister, who must be a Sunni.

Having the powers of the presidency further diminished because of on-going political wrangling will weaken all Lebanese, but none more than the Maronites.

Addendum: On the subject of the four Lebanese generals who have been imprisoned without charges since 2005, on suspicion of being involved in the murder of Rafiq Hariri, Patriarch Sfeir has this to say: They must be dealt with immediately, either by bringing charges against them or by "releasing them immediately, … because their incarceration without looking into their matter and without charges is a travesty of Justice."

Even Brammertz, the head of the UN investigation, has criticized the continued imprisonment of the four generals without charges.

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Comments (31)

1. Zsaid:

Here are several biographies of Absi by pro-March 14 outlets that appeared yesterday: Lebanon Now, Naharnet, Ya Lubnan. None make the Syrian link outright.

All of these are versions of an AFP story. It has nothing to do with “pro-March 14 outlets” and your conspiracy theory. Everyone in Lebanon from the March 14 camp, as well as intelligent observers there and elsewhere, know that Syria played a role in facilitating the access of these people and their weapons into Lebanon, and know that Absi was released by the Syrians early and sent to Lebanon for this purpose.

How do they “know” Syria inspired this group? Yes, all the outlets used the AFP story, but they had all previously run their own stories on Absi’s and Fatah al-Islam’s background. They made a choice not to cut and paste.

I grant you that laziness may have gotten the better of their judgement. It will be interesting to read the analysis of the Fatah al-Islam phenomenon that will be produced in the coming weeks.

You have a reputation of putting words into people’s mouths, so I will try this again. The term “inspired” was not used by anyone but you. The terms used were “facilitated access,” and “released Absi early.” We “know” that Absi, who was wanted in Jordan was released by the Syrians after serving barely 3 years, which you, as a Syria “expert,” know is not a “real” sentence. He then emerged amidst Syrian controlled militia, trained there, and “took over” (without a single shot being fired) that operation. Countless of confessions and other reports speak to this. Other experiences with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere speak to this. This is something the Syrians did in Iraq as well. We “know” all that.

but they had all previously run their own stories on Absi’s and Fatah al-Islam’s background.

Yes, and their own stories all made the Syria link. It is difficult not to make that link, as you well “know.” The difference is that these outlets do not alter a news story they pick up, which is not originally theirs.

These outlets already ran the Syrian link. The major Arab papers did this too. They all made the Syria link. Just like Syria acts like a transit point (with the active consent of the authorities) and training ground and safe haven for Jihadists going into Iraq, it does so with Lebanon and Jordan. Everyone “knows” that. You have admitted it before. After all, this is what Maliki talked with the Syrians about.

Furthermore, if there is any laziness here, it’s from your end. All you did was recycle easily accessible second-hand English reports from Naharnet mixed with the usual polishing of the Syrian regime. How impressive.

The reputation about you seems quite accurate. Sfeir did not make those statements. Sfeir, according to the report you link, was quoting what the lawyers of the 4 generals told him. Figures you would be advocating on their behalf as well.

The UN probe into the assassination represented by its head Serge Brammertz “has, five times, officially declared that the arrest of the four former security generals falls strictly within the responsibilities of the Lebanese judiciary and the [UN] committee was not to be held responsible for it.

The lawyers of the four generals have been pointing out for some time that neither the Lebanese constitution nor its law permits holding suspects for over two years without evidence. The reason Sfeir was reiterating these questions is because they are legitimate.

Despite the reiteration of your accusations, you seem reluctant to offer any proof, despite being quick to demand it yourself.

The only link you have provided to Syria is that Shaker el-Abssi was released from Syrian prison. The same argument then could be used to link Zarqawi to Jordan, because he was released from Jordanian prison. Then you go on to say that Shaker el-Abssi was sentenced for 3 years, “which is not a real sentence in Syria.” And just how exactly do you know what a real and not so real sentence in Syria is? Do you have precedence? Do you have a list of all sentences in Syria? Shaker el-Abssi was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment back in 2002. Are you suggesting that the Syrians, back in 2002, knew that in 2005 they would have to withdraw from Lebanon and therefore decided to sentence el-Abssi to 3 years in prison so that they can send him to Lebanon just in time?

As for the link to Fate7 el-Intifada, this group actually expelled Abssi and his men from 3 Palestinian camps in Lebanon; namely Shatila, Burj el-Barajneh, and Baddawi. They were then installed in Nahr el-Bared. Most Palestinians I know from Nahr el-Bared have indicated to me that they believe Hariri brought Abssi and his group into their camp. Let us also not forget that Fate7 el-Intifada is a secular Palestinian group, while Fate7 el-Islam is a salafi takfiri group made up of mainly Saudis and Lebanese.

You continually make unfounded claims, and then say everyone “knows” it. Who is everyone? Most western journalistic and intelligence sources have actually linked Fate7 el-Islam to Hariri and KSA, with an indirect connection to the US. The only people who have accused Syria of backing Abssi’s group are Hariri and KSA funded propaganda outlets. Next time you want to make such categorical statements, at least provide some proof other than obviously biased media sources.

“Why have the M14 group and other prominent officials backed away from the claim that That Fateh al Islam has Syrian connections, or inspired by Syria? One word PRAGMATISM !

The bigger battle than Naher el Bared is just over the horizon, and that is the battle for the Presidency! Can anyone just notice or is it just me that the rhetoric of both sides has died down quite significantly in the last month? Why?

This is significant because both sides in the Lebanese political arena have reached a dead end. M8’s sit in, and paralysis of the government has fizzled, M14’s political bluster has ran out of puff, there are no new riots, no new assasinations, and no body wants the specter of the civil war to rear its ugly head- again.

Maybe the New Army hero Suleiman will be president, it now all seems that this victory by the army ( and note its a national army now) might have some useful consequences. Heres one for all you conspiracy theorists out there.

Syria stages the Fateh Islam insurrection, gets its man in Lebanon to crush it and appear as its national hero, then Syrias man gets the Presidency again! Sounds good, now we just have to wait for the rumour mill!

Might as well change the name of this blog to “LebanonComment.” Lebanon gets more coverage on this blog than Syria does. All the Syrian apologists welcome the opportunity to remove the spotlight from Syria and place it on the Lebanese. A great example of this is the discussion of the 4 Lebanese generals who are in jail being suspected of collaborating in the Hariri murder. No comment about the countless political prisoners rotting away in Syrian prisons with little hope of every being released. No accounting of the many Lebanese who disappeared during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon.

We are Akbar sad because 1.65 million Israelis are living below poverty line. These poor Israelis may include some of the Holocaust survivors who survive with that laughable pension Israel has paid. Where did Akbar those billions Germany and companies have paid for compensation vanish? To corruption or to illegal settlements for bearded women beating fanatics?

PS
Akbar John Howard, Australia’s Prime Minister, is know for his good sense of humour. He just said that George Bush is an intelligent man. Is a man who appoints a man (Bremmer) to lead Iraq who appoints a man to answer from Iraq’s healtcare who sees as his most important task to start an anti smoking campaign. An English general, Sir Mike, described the policy of that intelligent man as “intellectually bankrupt”.

Antoun has pointed out that Syria has every reason to celebrate the demise of Fatah al-Islam and success of the Lebanese military.

Not only because Syria has been a front-line opponent of al-Qaida, but because Syria helped supply the Lebanese army with weapons in the fight against Fatah al-Islam. He directed us to this post on the discussion board, the Orange Room, which confirms that Lebanese authorities thanked Syria for their assistance in supplying weapons.

The Army Generals in a press conference confirmed Syria supplied the Lebanese army with weapons during the war… Reporters pressed the Generals on why they did NOT single out Syria when he thanked the countries who helped Lebanon, his answer was, we have a long standing agreement with Syria to supply the Lebanese army with weapons, and this did not change or stop during the war…

For those of us who have been around know that the word “shakika” in Lebanese politics means Syria. In which Elias Murr did say, nashkor Egypt, Jordan, Saudi, US, EU, Emirates, US and dowal al shakika.

The generals in their closing speech, started off with thanking dowal al shakika before ending the conference today.

So this is not a rumor, its confirmed, i liked how they handled themselves in the conf, i’m proud of our army.

“The army’s head of intelligence said Fatah al-Islam was directly linked to al Qaeda.

The group has said it has no organizational ties to Osama bin Laden’s network and that its aims were to spread its hardline interpretation of Islam among Palestinians and to fight Israel.

But Brigadier General George Khoury told the same briefing: “All the investigations have confirmed that the Fatah al-Islam organization is linked to al Qaeda and is in continuous link and contact with it.”

“This was revealed through all the investigations that were carried out of captured elements, communications that occurred between al Qaeda cells outside Lebanon and confessions of captured people,” he said.”Reuters

“Backing Lebanese suspicions that Fatah Islam has ties to al-Qaida, an Islamist Web site that usually carries al-Qaida statements has opened a special page to receive “congratulations on the martyrdom of the holy warrior Sheik Shaker al-Absi.”

“The Islamic nation is bidding farewell to one of the greatest holy warriors,” said a contributor, calling himself Abu Bilal Seif.

“May God let down those who betrayed Fatah Islam,” wrote another commentator.”AP

Cairo, 4 Sept. (AKI) – Italian foreign minister Massimo D’Alema said Tuesday that Syria should be invited to a Middle East peace conference being organised by Washington for November.

“All nations involved should be invited, including Syria”, D’Alema said after meeting Arab League president Amr Moussa in Cairo.

“I think it would be good for this conference to be attended by those countries in the international community most involved in finding peace in the region, hence the main European countries, besides the European Union”, D’Alema said.

Washington has signalled that the conference aims to include Israel in face-to-face talks with representatives of what it calls ‘moderate’ Arab nations, such as Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states.

The Bush Administration has branded Syria a “rogue state” in the past and has repeatedly accused it of sponsoring terrorism in Lebanon and militant activity in Iraq.

D’Alema on Tuesday said it should be remembered that the proposal of a peace conference “first came from the Arabs and the Europeans”, adding that “we are now happy that the proposal has been re-launched by President Bush”.

The Italian foreign minister warned that to succeed the conference would have to “define a platform on a way and time-frame to achieve peace”, and that participants would have to be “encouraged to make brave decisions”.

Moussa, also speaking after the meeting, said he agreed with D’Alema that the “conference will be useful if carefully prepared so as to allow progress towards a solution of the [Arab-Israeli] conflict”.

D’Alema, who is on a regional tour, was scheduled to attend a working dinner which will open a meeting of foreign ministers from the 22 Arab League member states on Tuesday evening.

“The daily As-Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday that Fatah al-Islam had been plotting to assassinate Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir. The paper said security reports also linked the group to the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel last November.

The army also confirmed Fatah al-Islam’s involvement in the twin bus bombing in Ain Alaq on February 13.

Judicial sources told The Daily Star that there is a link between a senior member of the group, Abu Yazen, three other members – whose fates are unknown – and the Gemayel assassination, but added that investigations are still under way.”The Daily Star

Months of surveillance, planned targeting of the Patriarch’s convoy, one can’t help but notice certain similarities…

Well, the victorious General Michael Sulaiman said recently that Fateh Al Islam is not connected to Syria? Did he not? Now we are told that they were behind the Ain Alaq busses exp[olsions and the Gemayel assasination. Can some now tell us who is behind Fateh Al Islam? Should someone at least “appologieze” to the Syrians for prematurely acusuing them of the two murders mentioned above and for whome Syria was blamed then?

Akbar I played Tennis last night, I was being sarcastic I didnt go demonstrating!

I dont think that everyone is sad about the demise about Fateh Islam, I think that you have it wrong on this occasion, anyone that perpetrates violence on Arab or Jew does not curry favour in my eyes or anyone on this site.

It is high time my brother that you stop this sensless baiting, it is pointless!

As to John Howard , unfortunately for him, the opinon polls came out yesterday he is 19 points behind the opposition, and we have a election due in 3 months, he used to be called honest John, but his sensless backing of everything Bush has done has not gone down well with the Australian public, where he is know seen post 9/11 as dis honest , mean and tricky by a majority of the Australian public.

I dont think that everyone is sad about the demise about Fateh Islam, I think that you have it wrong on this occasion, anyone that perpetrates violence on Arab or Jew does not curry favour in my eyes or anyone on this site.

Enlightened,

I beg to differ. A number of the participants on this website fully support organizations which refuse to recognize a Jewish State (aka Israel) and whose method of “resistance” is the indiscriminate firing of misslies at civilian targets.

Co-website “manager” Alex has stated numerous times that he is a Hezbollah and Hamas supporter. I’ll just assume you speak only for yourself.

We are Akbar sad because 1.65 million Israelis are living below poverty line.

SimoHurtta (cc: Observer):

At least you don’t apologize for your Fatah-al-Islam depression, however, in typical fashion, you change the subject a redirect us to a liberal hebrew news outlet (Ha’aretz) whose readership is the least popular in the Zionist Entity.

Of course, I don’t mind. Democracy allows anybody to speak without fear of retribution. One day the Arab world will figure that one out.

But I’m glad you switched the subject to “poverty”. Let’s look at some statistics. I will present both the per capita GDP of 3 nations as well as the percentage of the population living below the “poverty line”, and percent GDP for military spending. Please refer to the CIA Factbook for these numbers.

Israel: $26,800/21.6%/7.3%

Syria: $4,100/11.9/5.9%

USA: $44,000/12%/4.1%

So when Mr. Ha’aretz delights you with his complaints about Israeli “poverty” it all has to be compared “apples-to-apples”. Unfortunately, Ha’aretz readers are not savy enough to do that.

Being “Poor” in one country is different than being “Poor” in another country. Tell us about the poor in Syria, Lebanon, and Eygpt.